WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, Governor Gina M. Raimondo declared a state of emergency due to the dangers to health and life posed by COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, on March 15, 2020, Mayor Roberto L. DaSilva, issued Executive Order 2020-004 declaring a state of municipal emergency within the City of East Providence due to the outbreak of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, the East Providence City Council ratified the Declaration of Municipal Emergency at a meeting on March 17, 2020 and authorized its extension through April 17, 2020; and

WHEREAS, the number of persons testing positive for COVID-19 in Rhode Island has begun to stabilize; and

WHEREAS, in addition to a public health crisis, COVID-19 has created an economic burden for the people of the State of Rhode Island and the City of East Providence; and

WHEREAS, for the wellbeing of the residents of the city, East Providence may now begin to take incremental measures to re-open the city’s economic and cultural life while still holding the health and safety of its residents paramount.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mayor Roberto L. DaSilva, by virtue of the authority vested in me as the Mayor of the City of East Providence, pursuant to the Rhode Island General Laws and the Home Rule Charter of the City of East Providence, do hereby order and direct the following:

Section 1: Stay Home Order Lifted - Vulnerable Populations Strongly Advised to Remain Home

1. Section 1 Directive 1 of Executive Order 2020-013 issued March 30, 2020 requiring East Providence residents to stay at home unless traveling to work, traveling for medical treatment or obtaining goods or services that are essential to an individual’s wellbeing is hereby repealed.
   
   
2. All vulnerable populations identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which include those who are 65 and older, are strongly advised to stay at home unless they must go to work, travel for medical treatment or obtain other necessities such as groceries, gas, or medication.

Section 2: Work Remotely to the Extent Possible

1. Employers must still encourage working remotely to the greatest extent possible. Any person who can work remotely should continue to do so. Employees of office-based businesses who must go to work should do so only if absolutely necessary and for a limited period of time.
   
   
2. Any employer in the City of East Providence with employees who live in other states shall use all means available to enable these employees to telecommute or make other Alternative Work Arrangements (AWA). This shall not apply to public health, public safety, or healthcare workers.

Section 3: Social Gathering Limit Remains at Five

1. All social gatherings of more than five (5) people in any public or private space such as an auditorium, stadium, arena, large conference room, meeting hall, library, theater, place of worship, fair, festival, park, shall continue to be prohibited.

This Order shall take effect immediately and remain in full force and effect through May 19, 2020, unless further extended.